Northwestern erased what coach Pat Fitzgerald has constantly called the last negative remaining in the program with a 34-20 victory over Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl on Tuesday.
The Wildcats won a bowl game for the first time since they won the Rose Bowl after the 1948 season. It is also the first time NU has won 10 games since 1995 and just the third time in the program’s history.
NU got off to a quick 13-0 start after just 15 minutes and 12 seconds, but by the early part of the third quarter Mississippi State came back to tie the game. The Cats responded with 14 consecutive points and then traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter to preserve the victory.
The Cats intercepted Bulldogs quarterback Tyler Russell four times including one by senior defensive end Quentin Williams, which he took back for a touchdown. The NU offense struggled mightily in establishing the running game and junior running back Venric Mark was held to 55 yards on 13 carries. It used both sophomore Trevor Siemian and junior Kain Colter at quarterback with the two combining to throw for 196 yards while completing 21-of-36 passes and getting picked off three times.
Senior safety Jared Carpenter was named the player of the game by ESPN following the game.
— Josh Walfish
